On March 6, 2019, the American Kitchen Cabinet Alliance (AKCA) filed a petition with the Department of Commerce that alleges wooden cabinets and vanities from China are being sold at less than fair market value in the U.S. market and the roughly $10 billion domestic industry is being threatened by Chinese companies benefiting from unfair subsidies. AKCA alleges that dumping margins range from 175.5% to 259% with an average margin of 216%.
The goods covered by the petition are cabinets and vanities made primarily of wood products, both solid wood and engineered wood products or bamboo. Included in the petition are the following:
Permanently affixed cabinetry typically found throughout the home, including kitchen and bathroom cabinetry as well as the laundry room, closets, and home offices
Kitchen and bathroom cabinetry found in commercial buildings, apartments, hotels, assisted living or healthcare facilities, and other environments
Component parts of cabinets and vanities, including frames, doors, drawers, back and end panels, desks, and shelves
Subjected import goods are classified under HTSUS 9403.40.9060 and 9403.60.8081.
Subjected component parts are classified under HTSUS 9403.90.7080.
The following goods are excluded if entered separately from a wooden cabinet or vanity:
Aftermarket accessory items that may be added to or installed into an interior of a cabinet and that are not considered a structural or core component
Carved wooden accessories, including corbels and rosettes, that serve the primary purpose of decoration and personalization
Non-wooden cabinet hardware components including metal hinges, brackets, catches, locks, drawer slides, fasteners (nails, screws, tacks, staples), handles, and knobs
Products covered by the scope of the AD duty orders on wooden bedroom furniture from China and hardwood plywood products from China.
Source: Forbes and Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report
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